Treatment

Psychological treatment can include any intervention for the benefit of a client’s mental health that’s recommended or performed by a licensed treatment provider. Common types of care providers include the following: 

• Psychiatrists²
• Therapists³
• Counselors
• Psychiatric nurse practitioners
• Clinical social workers
• Primary care physicians
• Crisis counselors
• Peer support specialists

Treatment is often based on a diagnosis⁴ of a specific mental illness, in which case its primary aim may be to help the client reduce or eliminate relevant symptoms. In other cases, people without a diagnosable mental disorder may receive treatment to address challenges like:

• Difficulty regulating emotions
• Everyday stress
• Relationship conflict
• Distress related to significant life events
• The effects of trauma
• Daily functional difficulties 

Mental health treatment can take many forms. However, the two most common categories are:

1. Psychological treatment: This type of treatment is commonly referred to as “therapy,” “psychotherapy,” or “talk therapy.” It can include any treatment in which a mental health professional talks with a client (or a group of clients) to help them change unwanted or counterproductive thoughts, emotions, and action patterns. 
2. Pharmacological treatment: Also known as medication, pharmacological treatment can refer to any medication prescribed to relieve or manage the symptoms of a mental disorder. It’s often used in conjunction with psychotherapy. For safety reasons, experts recommend pursuing pharmacological treatment for mental illness only under the guidance of a trained psychiatric professional.

Research suggests that evidence-based mental health treatment can be highly effective for many psychological disorders. People who receive therapy often report significant improvements in their well-being, emotional stability, and overall quality of life. Treatment can take time to achieve its effects, however. Dropping out of a course of treatment early may significantly decrease the likelihood of benefiting.

In some cases, treatment might be applied through a treatment center like a rehabilitation facility or psychiatric long-term care location. In these cases, a team of professionals may offer mental health support through therapy, supervision, medication management, case management, and other support services. 

For those experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

The most frequently used treatments in clinical practice tend to have received the most support from randomized controlled trials testing their effectiveness. These treatments often include the following. 

Psychotherapy

There are hundreds of defined types of psychotherapy, but a few standout approaches are favored among clinicians due to the amount of evidence for their effectiveness. These modalities may include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Psychodynamic therapy (PDT)
• Marriage and family therapy (MFT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often considered the “gold standard” of evidence-based treatment. This treatment approach involves assisting clients to assess their mental habits objectively and implement practical strategies to alter their thinking and behavior. It has been extensively studied, with many scientific trials showing its effectiveness for mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders. 

However, there are over 400 therapeutic modalities, and many have also shown effectiveness. For example, a 2017 meta-analysis concluded that psychodynamic therapy appeared to have equivalent effectiveness with CBT in treating several mental health disorders. PDT more closely resembles classical psychoanalysis, in which the therapist and client seek to uncover and address deep-rooted causes of psychological difficulties, such as negative experiences in childhood.

In practice, therapists often employ a mix of methods derived from several treatments listed above, especially CBT and PDT. They may also incorporate other techniques they’ve found helpful in their professional experience. This mixed-method approach is often called “eclectic” or “integrative” therapy. Integrative support may enable a therapist to tailor their approach to a client’s specific life history and combination of symptoms.

Medication

As with psychotherapy, psychiatric medications come in hundreds of different varieties. They’re often grouped according to the specific symptoms they intend to treat. However, some doctors may prescribe medications “off-label,” using them to address different conditions than those for which they’re typically recommended. For instance, antidepressants are often prescribed for clients with anxiety disorders. 

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists the following as common types of psychiatric medications:

• Antidepressants: Commonly used antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs).
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): MAOIs include tricyclic antidepressants and Esketamine. 
• Anti-anxiety medications: Anti-anxiety medications may include benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, and Buspirone, among others. 
• Antipsychotics: Antipsychotics include first-generation or “typical” antipsychotics (dopamine receptor antagonists or DRAs) and second-generation or “atypical” antipsychotics (serotonin-dopamine antagonists).
• Mood stabilizers: The most common mood stabilizer is Lithium.

These medications can vary substantially in their mechanisms of action. However, they often work by increasing or decreasing the activity levels of certain neurotransmitters or receptors in the brain. Some pharmacological treatments for mental illness can come with serious side effects.

Consult a medical doctor before starting, changing, or stopping a medication for any condition. The information in this article is not a replacement for medical advice or diagnosis. 

Brain stimulation

Some treatments for mental illness involve directly inducing or suppressing electromagnetic activity in the brain. These methods are less commonly used but may be effective for some individuals with severe or treatment-resistant mental illness. 

The most well-known brain stimulation treatment is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), in which electrodes on the head are used to incite brief seizure activity in the brain. In popular media, ECT might be nicknamed “electroshock therapy.” Though some may consider it an outdated or cruel form of treatment, it’s a painless procedure that can provide relief to individuals with treatment-resistant depression. ECT can cause temporary memory loss but is unlikely to result in significant brain damage.

Other brain stimulation treatments include repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and vagus nerve stimulation.

Complementary and alternative therapies

Some techniques used in mental healthcare are considered complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches. These modalities lack robust research support and may be based on theories of disease and healing that aren’t widely accepted in the medical community. However, they may improve a client’s psychological well-being in some cases. 

Some mental health professionals suggest alternative therapies alongside standard psychological or pharmacological treatment, a process known as integrative treatment. CAM practices may offer stress relief, a sense of community, personal empowerment, or other benefits that can help clients in their mental health recovery. 

CAM therapies that have shown potentially promising mental health results in some trials include:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Acupuncture
• Herbal treatments like Saint John’s wort
• Light therapy (LT)
• Physical exercise
• Biofeedback

Some users may also prefer these therapies over psychiatric medication because they can have fewer side effects. However, CAM techniques aren’t necessarily risk-free. Some herbal treatments may be toxic in the wrong dosages or when combined with certain medicines, for example, and some practitioners of meditation report unwanted side effects like anxiety attacks or hyper-awareness of physical sensations. 

Self-help treatments

Mental health professionals may also recommend systematic practices that clients can perform independently. These self-help interventions may be conducted with guidance from a treatment provider or as instructions that a client follows with little assistance. 

Self-help treatments are often based on standardized therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. They may offer a low-cost, highly accessible pathway to symptom relief for some individuals. 

Several steps are often used in treatment to support clients, including but not necessarily limited to the following. 

Assessment and diagnosis

Mental health treatment often starts with an assessment to evaluate the client’s reason for seeking support. For some people, assessment starts with a visit to their primary care doctor, who may refer them to a mental health specialist. In other cases, a client may seek a psychological or psychiatric treatment provider directly.

Either way, a mental health care provider may perform a psychological assessment to identify any diagnosable mental disorders and guide their approach to treatment. This process could involve asking clients about their mood, thoughts, symptoms, life circumstances, and health history. The provider might also ask individuals seeking treatment to complete standardized psychological tests.

In addition to determining whether a client is experiencing a mental illness, the treatment provider may attempt to evaluate whether they’re at high risk of harming themselves or others. If so, they may recommend temporary hospitalization during this crisis period. 

For those with thoughts of suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Treatment plan and care team

Once a mental health treatment provider has completed their assessment and offered a relevant diagnosis, they’ll work with a client to develop a treatment plan. A treatment plan is often a collaborative process in which both parties discuss the treatment goals and the types of therapy or medication that fit the client’s needs and preferences.

Depending on the treatment plan, more than one provider may be involved. The care team may include several specialists, such as:

• A therapist or counselor to perform talk therapy
• A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner to prescribe and supervise medication
• A social worker to assist with managing daily life
• A peer specialist offering advice based on personal experience with mental illness
• A CAM therapy provider, such as a yoga coach or meditation teacher
• A case manager to coordinate care

Course of treatment

Once a plan has been established, clients may begin receiving treatments with guidance from their care team. Individuals receiving psychotherapy may be asked to attend regular sessions with their counselor or therapist. These sessions may take place one-on-one or with small groups of other clients. Certain therapy modalities may require only six to 12 sessions, while others may not have a fixed length.

These sessions may involve discussions about topics like: 

• Causes of symptoms
• Emotional stressors in daily life
• Interpersonal relationships
• The client’s life history 
• Traumatic events
• Strategies for emotional regulation
• Alternative framing of persistent thoughts
• Techniques for relaxation and stress relief
• Healthier problem-solving approaches
• Motivations for recovery

The American Psychiatric Association states that therapists and clients must both actively engage in the therapeutic process for it to be effective. To enhance client involvement, treatment providers often assign “homework,” such as journaling or completing exercises, between sessions. Homework may also involve practicing techniques learned in therapy or reflecting further on topics discussed during sessions. 

When psychiatric medication is prescribed, it may take time to be effective. The amount of time required can vary depending on the symptoms and the type of medication used, but a period of four to eight weeks before the full effects are felt is not uncommon. The doctor may prescribe another option if the client doesn’t respond well to the initial pharmacological treatment. It may be beneficial to try several different medications before finding one that aids symptoms and doesn’t cause intolerable side effects.

For those struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Several avenues are available for those interested in locating a treatment provider. Primary care physicians often provide referrals to therapists or psychiatrists, and health insurance companies may offer tools a customer can use to locate specialists covered by their plan. Government insurance providers like Medicare may do the same.

Some individuals may ask trusted friends who’ve benefited from treatment for recommendations. Those who belong to religious congregations can sometimes get referrals from clergy members. Non-profit organizations or professional associations might also provide emotional support and help people connect with mental health professionals, including:

• Local chapters of Mental Health America (MHA)
• The American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• The American Psychological Association (APA)
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
• The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
• Trevor Project (LGBT youth)
• Trans Lifeline
• Black Men Heal
• The Asian Mental Health Collective

A few government agencies also provide resources for those seeking psychological treatment:

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

It’s also possible to consult a therapist online through services like BetterHelp. Internet-based therapy can be a convenient way to find a provider, connecting individuals to a vast network of licensed professionals regardless of location. Research suggests attending therapy online can be as beneficial as face-to-face sessions.